It was fortunate they hadn’t rashly gone to the Lion Tower to arrest people, otherwise they really would have already alerted their enemies. They couldn’t reveal the slightest abnormality now. Otherwise, given that the other side currently held all the advantages, as long as they accelerated their plans, the Cui clan would only fall faster.

“They can’t possibly eat, drink, relieve themselves, and sleep entirely within the Lion Tower, can they?” Song Chuyi tugged at the corner of her mouth in a smile, but her eyes were clear and cold, carrying not a trace of emotion. “As long as Wang Ying and his people still have use for them, there’s no way they won’t go out at times. Moreover, we don’t need to keep watching them so closely now. Since Wang Ying is above them…”

Song Jue continued in a grave voice: “Then we should turn our attention to closely watching Wang Ying instead! Didn’t Grandfather say that memorial Wang Ying was supposed to submit wasn’t submitted? Could it be that whoever is pulling the strings behind the scenes discovered something, so they’re preparing to close the net early?”

“It won’t be closing the net early.” Song Chuyi answered for Old Master Song, looking at Song Jue and shaking her head. “They probably received word that Grandfather’s protégé came to visit and guessed that Grandfather should be returning to the Cabinet to handle affairs. They’re afraid too many actions would arouse Grandfather’s suspicions.”

But the current problem was that the Song family was being closely monitored. Today when Song Jue went out, it was because his colleagues had already been at Swallow Cove beforehand, and it was routine socializing that wouldn’t arouse any suspicion. However, as soon as the Song family deployed any manpower, they would certainly alert their enemies.

Song Chengru also found this problem quite thorny. He narrowed his eyes and burned the list of names he had shown Song Chuyi earlier, saying: “I’ll attend court and handle affairs tomorrow. They can’t possibly screen every single person who makes contact with me. I’ll see if I can find an opportunity to have someone trustworthy handle this matter. Everything depends on tomorrow’s circumstances. These matters can’t be resolved in a day or two. We ourselves must remain calm first.”

The evening breeze blew pleasantly, occasionally dotted with scattered fireflies embellishing the hibiscus flowers, making one unable to resist the whimsical desire to catch fireflies with a small silk fan. But Song Chuyi couldn’t muster this mood. Even when she happened upon Xiang Mingzi and Song Chuyou catching fireflies, she only stood and exchanged a few words before returning to Guanju Courtyard again.

Guanju Courtyard was brightly lit. Qing Tao and Ziyun were waiting together in the corridor. Seeing her, they quickly stood up. Noticing the worry hidden between her brows, they asked: “His Highness and Second Young Master Ye have both sent things. Luo Gui also brought in new verbal messages. Miss, would you like to wash up first, or look at them first?”

Song Chuyi’s steps didn’t pause as she entered the room. She sat on the beauty couch and asked: “What did they send?”

Luyi carefully carried in a carousel lantern, her face full of childlike delight as she smiled: “Second Young Master Ye sent it—a carousel lantern! The whole way carrying it in it was glowing green. Seeing it as soon as it gets dark, one truly forgets all worries.”

There wasn’t a girl who didn’t love such things. Song Chuyi, seeing her happiness, smiled and told her to put it away, then turned her head to ask Qing Ying: “Did Second Young Master Ye only send this one lantern?”

Qing Ying shook her head. She served Song Chuyi a cup of rose dew and leaned down to say: “Second Young Master Ye also had Chang’an, who delivered this, bring a verbal message. He asks you to rest assured—he’ll write to ask Ye Jingkuan exactly where he went and what he’s actually doing.”

He still didn’t know what had happened. Knowing full well that Ye Jingkuan was keeping this matter tightly concealed and acting on imperial orders, just because of her worry at that time, he had decided to investigate such confidential information for her sake. Song Chuyi was somewhat dazed, holding in her hand a gold-traced white jade cup carved with peony patterns, unable to return to her senses for a long while, unclear about what she was feeling.

To say she was completely unaware of these feelings would be a lie. After all, having lived this many years combined, she wasn’t someone who had never liked anyone before and knew these were all manifestations of liking someone. But for her to truly contemplate these feelings or even accept Ye Jingchuan’s goodwill—she felt wisps of cold rising from the depths of her heart. Others saw her as a young maiden in her prime, but she herself knew what her core was truly like.

After she slightly recovered her senses, Qing Ying personally took out a letter from her sleeve and handed it to her: “This is His Highness’s letter to you.”

Zhou Weizhao had helped her with a great favor, successfully making Duke Yingguo’s residence catch a hot potato. But Song Chuyi couldn’t muster even half of her previous joy. Listlessly, she opened the letter and casually glanced at it, but with just this one glance, she immediately sat up straight.

What Zhou Weizhao mentioned in the letter was actually about Lai Chenglong and Ye Jingkuan leaving the capital!

Since he knew Ye Jingkuan and Lai Chenglong’s whereabouts, he should know this matter’s spearhead should be pointing at the Cui family, and should also know that whoever was doing this was at least helping the Eastern Palace—just as Old Master Song had said, not one of the people Chief Minister Chang planned to assign to Yangzhou belonged to the Eastern Palace faction. How could the Eastern Palace be willing to accept this? It was probably also because of this that the Crown Prince and the Fan family tacitly permitted their subordinates’ actions.

Knowing this, Zhou Weizhao still sent a letter to inform her?! Song Chuyi gripped the letter paper tightly. Her jade-carved hands were faintly trembling. This Crown Prince who was different from everyone else she had ever encountered—had he truly stayed on Longhu Mountain too long?

He clearly knew what kind of person she was. At the very least, she wouldn’t let a single one of those people who schemed to frame Cui Shaoting off. And this way, the Eastern Palace would lose a large batch of pawns. Wasn’t he afraid this would make the Crown Prince even more inclined toward Consort Fan and Zhou Weiqi?!

She steadied herself and continued reading below. The letter also said that currently in the northwest, Cui Shaoting should be tied up by matters of rebuilding the Great Wall and military provisions for war horses. Someone wanted to ensure he had no time to know what was happening in the capital.

Since information was blocked, if Yang Xuan, who deeply trusted Cui Shaoting, brought up the matter of memorializing about border trade, Cui Shaoting would very likely agree—after all, Yang Xuan was someone he had personally promoted and entrusted with important responsibilities. This person’s suggestion happened to solve his urgent problem, greatly reducing border pressure and giving Cui Shaoting much time to prepare.

Zhou Weizhao wrote in the letter that the primary point was to first establish contact with Cui Shaoting and deal with the hidden pawns and informants around him. Only then would they be able to discuss with Ye Jingkuan and Lai Chenglong about how to report to Emperor Jianzhang what they had discovered.

Song Chuyi, gripping that thin sheet of letter paper, was actually breaking out in cold sweat reading it. After thinking for a moment, she raised her head and instructed Qing Ying: “Didn’t you say Luo Gui is at the west corner gate all evening tonight? Go tell him to make a trip home. Have him quietly find Ma Wangkun and notify Qing Zhuo—I need to see His Highness.”